Methods and means for the measurement of tubing, casing, perforation and sand-screen imaging using backscattered X-ray radiation in a wellbore environment

Abstract

An x-ray-based cased wellbore tubing and casing imaging tool is disclosed, the tool including at least a shield to define the output form of the produced x-rays; a two-dimensional per-pixel collimated imaging detector array; a parallel hole collimator format in one direction that is formed as a pinhole in another direction; Sonde-dependent electronics; and a plurality of tool logic electronics and PSUs. A method of using an x-ray-based cased wellbore tubing and casing imaging tool is also disclosed, the method including at least: producing x-rays in a shaped output; measuring the intensity of backscatter x-rays returning from materials surrounding a wellbore; determining an inner and an outer diameter of tubing or casing from the backscatter x-rays; and converting image data from said detectors into consolidated images of the tubing or casing.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . An x-ray-based cased wellbore tubing and casing imaging tool, the tool comprising:
 a shield to define the output form of the produced x-rays;   a two-dimensional per-pixel collimated imaging detector array;   a parallel hole collimator format in one direction that is formed as a pinhole in another direction;   sonde-dependent electronics; and   a plurality of tool logic electronics and power supply units (PSUs),   wherein machine learning is employed to automatically reformat or re-tesselate resulting images as a function of depth and varying logging speeds or logging steps.   
     
     
         2 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the two-dimensional per-pixel collimated imaging detector array comprises a single strip array that is one pixel wide and multiple pixels long. 
     
     
         3 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the tool is to generate images that contain spectral information to inform characteristics of any wellbore materials or debris. 
     
     
         4 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the shield further comprises tungsten. 
     
     
         5 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the tool is configured so as to permit through-wiring. 
     
     
         6 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the tool is combinable with other measurement tools comprising one or more of acoustic or ultrasonic tools. 
     
     
         7 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the tool is used to determine an inner diameter of a tubing or casing. 
     
     
         8 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the tool is used to determine an outer diameter of a tubing or casing. 
     
     
         9 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the tool is used to determine a distribution and inner diameter of a scale upon an inner diameter of a tubing or casing. 
     
     
         10 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the tool is used to determine the position, distribution and area of perforations, within casings surrounding a cased wellbore. 
     
     
         11 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the tool is used to determine the position and integrity of sand-screens, within casings surrounding a cased wellbore. 
     
     
         12 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the tool is used to determine the position and integrity of gravel-packs, within casings surrounding a cased wellbore. 
     
     
         13 . The tool of  claim 1 , wherein the tool is used to determine the position and integrity of side-pocket mandrels, within casings surrounding a cased wellbore. 
     
     
         14 . A method of using an x-ray-based cased wellbore tubing and casing imaging tool, the method comprising:
 producing x-rays in a shaped output;   measuring an intensity of backscatter x-rays returning from materials surrounding a wellbore;   determining an inner and an outer diameter of tubing or casing from the backscatter x-rays;   converting image data from imaging detectors into consolidated images of the tubing or casing; and   employing machine learning to automatically reformat or re-tesselate the consolidated images as a function of depth and varying logging speeds or logging steps.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the imaging detectors comprise a two-dimensional per-pixel collimated imaging detector array that is one pixel wide and multiple pixels long. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the imaging detectors comprise two sets of two-dimensional per-pixel collimated imaging detector arrays. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the imaging detectors comprise a plurality of two-dimensional per-pixel collimated imaging detector arrays. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the consolidated images contain spectral information to inform of characteristics of any wellbore materials or debris. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the tool is combinable with other measurement methods comprising one or more of acoustic or ultrasonic. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the tool is used to determine an inner diameter of a tubing or casing. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the tool is used to determine an outer diameter of a tubing or casing. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the tool is used to determine the distribution and inner diameter of a scale upon the inner diameter of a tubing or casing. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the tool is used to determine the position, distribution and area of perforations, within casings surrounding a cased wellbore. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the tool is used to determine the position and integrity of sand-screens, within casings surrounding a cased wellbore. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the tool is used to determine the position and integrity of gravel-packs, within casings surrounding a cased wellbore. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the tool is used to determine the position and integrity of side-pocket mandrels, within casings surrounding a cased wellbore.